EVERY CHILD BORN
FREE FROM HIV
EVERY WOMAN AND CHILD WITH ACCESS
TO HIV TREATMENT
Victoria Beckham, UNAIDS International
Goodwill Ambassador
“This is the beginning of an important
journey for me. I am proud and
honoured to be taking on this new role
as International Goodwill Ambassador
for UNAIDS, helping to raise resources
and awareness around HIV. As a woman
and a mother I have a responsibility to
support other women. I strongly believe
that if we work together all women can
be empowered to keep themselves and
their children free from HIV.”
Victoria Beckham, UNAIDS International Goodwill Ambassador
“I dream of an AIDS-free generation and
I know that Victoria’s support will bring us
closer to this shared goal. Her creativity,
innovation and outreach will help us reach
millions of people around the world. Her
voice will help to amplify our efforts to
ensure that all women and children have
access to life-saving HIV prevention,
treatment and care services.”
Michel Sidibé, Executive Director, UNAIDS
Every day more than 650 children become infected with HIV
If a woman is living with HIV, the virus can pass to her baby
during pregnancy, labour, birth or when breastfeeding. But
if she has access to antiretroviral therapy, the risk of
transmission drops to less than 5%.
In 2013, around 33% of pregnant women living with HIV
did not have access to the life-saving medicines and
240 000 children became infected with HIV.
Without access to treatment, half of all children born with
HIV will die by the age of two and the majority will die by
the age of five. In 2013, only 24% of children living with
HIV had access to life-saving antiretroviral therapy.
In high-income countries, new HIV infections among
children have been virtually eliminated thanks to effective
HIV testing and counselling, access to antiretroviral
prophylaxis and treatment, safe delivery practices, family
planning and safe infant feeding.
Many low- and middle-income countries are now achieving
similar success. New HIV infections among children have
declined by 58% since 2001. Over the past five years
providing access to antiretroviral medicines for pregnant
women living with HIV has helped 900 000 children to be
born free from HIV.
UNAIDS and partners are working to ensure that all
children, everywhere are born free from HIV and that all
women and children have access to the medicines, care
and support they need.
In 2011, UNAIDS and partners launched the Global Plan
towards the elimination of new HIV infections among
children by 2015 and keeping their mothers alive. It is an
achievable goal. It requires leadership, passion and
sustained commitment to ensure women are empowered
to act—for themselves and for their families.
Five steps to stopping new HIV infections among children
1
2
3
4
5
Empower women
to protect themselves from HIV.
A mother free from
HIV cannot pass
on the virus to her
children.
Enable every woman
living with HIV to
have access to family
planning—so women
and their partners
can then plan when
and whether
to have a child.
Provide all pregnant
women with access
to antenatal care,
including HIV testing
and counselling.
Enable pregnant
women living with
HIV to access the
best possible antiretroviral therapy—
for their own health
and to protect their
children from HIV.
Ensure all children
and women
living with HIV
have access to
antiretroviral
treatment for their
own health.
Number of new child HIV infections
Number of new HIV infections among children globally, 2005–2013,
and projected targets
600 000
500 000
60%
reduction
400 000
65%
reduction
2001 to 2013
300 000
Continuing
current trends
from 2010
200 000
100 000
0
90% reduction
Global Plan target
200120022003 20042005 2006 20072008 20092010 20112012201320142015
Source: UNAIDS 2013 estimates.
KEY FACTS
240 000
The number of children newly infected with HIV.
3.2 million
The number of children living with HIV.
190 000
The number of HIV-related deaths among children.
90%
Of all new HIV infections among children occur in just 22 countries.
67%
The percentage of mothers living with HIV receiving some form
of antiretroviral prophylaxis to stop new infections among children.
24%
The percentage of children living with HIV receiving life-saving
antiretroviral therapy.
1/2
Of children living with HIV will die before their second birthday if
they don’t have access to antiretroviral therapy.
All data from the end of 2013.
20 Avenue Appia
CH-1211 Geneva 27
Switzerland
Tina Bille
UNAIDS Goodwill Ambassador Programme
+41 22 791 49 28 / +41 79 611 00 31
unaids.org